New Neighbor: Panera Bread

Panera Bread, an American "bakery-cafe" chain featuring bakery products, sandwiches, and salads, opened on East 23rd Street last week. The high-tech Flatiron District store features tablets for customers to use to place their orders. Simply tap on the tablet to begin your order, and select from a wide range of items offered. Once you get your food, head upstairs to the second floor dining area. This space features individual dining tables, communal tables, and counter seats. Free WiFi is available for customers.

Before becoming known as Panera Bread, the brand was once Saint Louis Bread Company. In 1993, Au Bon Pain Co., Inc., which was founded by Louis Kane and Ron Shaich, purchased Saint Louis Bread Company, which was then a chain of 20 "bakery-cafes" located in the Saint Louis, Missouri area. By 1997, after the company managed a comprehensive re-staging of Saint Louis Bread Co., the concept's name was changed to Panera Bread.